Inflatable cushion for use with garment hangers



p 29, 0 o. MALMI 3,531,027

INFLATABLE CUSHION FOR USE WITH GARMENT HANGERS Filed April 15, 1969 INVENTOR. OSCAR v MALM/N ATTORNEYS I United States Patent 3,531,027 INFLATABLE CUSHION FOR USE WITH GARMENT HANGERS Oscar Malmin, 2075 S. Main St., Akron, Ohio 44301 Filed Apr. 15, 1969, Ser. No. 816,297 Int. Cl. A47 51/08 U.S. Cl. 22388 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An inflatable, removable cushion to be used in conjunction with a conventional wire coat hanger. The inflatable cushion has a generally triangular planar configuration generally corresponding to the planar configuration of a conventional garment hanger but with a convex side to support the back-shoulder area. The cushion has a pair of opposed projections with these projections serving as arm-shoulder supports for the garment when the'device is inflated. It also has a neck portion which consists of two opposed projections which can be joined together so that in inflated condition they give a natural shape to the neck and collar area for better support. The entire cushion can be releasably secured to a conventional hanger.

FIELD, OF THE INVENTION This invention generally relates to devices intended to support wearing apparel during periods of nonuse and in particular relates to an improved detachable and infiatable cushion which can be secured to a conventional wire hanger to give improved support and avoid the disfiguration which occurs using a wire hanger alone.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In addition to the conventional wire hangers per se which are, of course, well known and also in addition to various wooden or foam type hangers which are also well known, applicant is aware of the following prior U.S. patents: Sahagian, U.S. Pat. 1,737,434; Waldy, U.S. Pat. 1,734,549; Freeman, U.S. Pat. 2,622,774.

Of these references, Waldy U.S. Pat. 1,734,549 discloses a unitary inflatable hanger while Sahagian U.S. Pat. 1,737,434 shows an inflatable bag having the general configuration of the human body and Freeman U.S. Pat. 2,622,774 discloses an inflatable garment hanger which is permanently secured to a wire hanger.

None of these references disclose the easily removable features of applicants invention nor do they disclose the unique shoulder and neck supporting features thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been discovered that improved support for a garment such as a jacket, dress, shirt or, for that matter, any article of wearing apparel, can be achieved by providing an air-tight cushion or bag which can be secured to a conventional hanger thereby avoiding the problem of creasing or deforming the garment which exists with regard to using conventional hangers alone. The inflatable cushion or bag provides support in critical areas of a garment to prevent disfiguration while the conventional wire hanger provides the necessary rigidity and means of suspending the garment from a hanger bar or book used to store garments.

It has also been discovered that improved supporting features can be obtained by providing projecting shoulderarm supports which conform generally to the natural shape of the shoulder and arm areas of the garment.

It has also been found that still further advantages can be obtained by providing a neck or collar element which again provides a natural configuration, in inflated Ice condition, to once more avoid distortion or deformation of the garment.

It has also been found that provision of a convex or curved neck portion of the cushion that merges into the aforementioned shoulder-arm and neck or collar elements permits the proper drape of articles maintaining garment form.

It has also been discovered that the Width provided by the joining cross bar element forming the interior border of the cushion permits draping and supporting articles of clothing such as trousers, skirts, etc. without the usual creasing or wrinkling.

It has further been discovered that by providing a support cushion or bag of this nature and making the same readily attachable to and removable from a conventional hanger, that it can be applied to any conventional hanger and removed again as desired.

Accordingly then, production of an improved cushion of the type described becomes the principal object of this invention with other objects thereof becoming more apparent upon a reading of the following brief specification considered and interpreted in view of the accompanying drawings.

0f the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the hanger inflated and in position on a conventional wire hanger.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing the improved cushion attached to a conventional wire hanger in uninflated condition.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the neck member showing the valving means disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Considering first then FIG. 1, it will be seen that the inflatable cushion 10 is made of any suitable air-tight inflatable material and has a generally triangular planar configuration including side legs 11 and .12 and base leg 13.

As is clearly apparent in both FIGS. 1 and 2, this general configuration generally corresponds to the configuration of the hanger 20 which discloses side legs 21 and 22 and a base 23.

Considering again then FIG. 1 for a more detailed examination of the cushion per se, it will be seen that in addition to legs 11 and 12 and base 13, the device includes opposed shoulder supports in the form of projections 14 and 15 which project outwardly adjacent the bottom ends of legs 11 and 12 and which, when inflated, provide improved support for the shoulders of the garment.

The cushion 10 also includes a neck member 16 which consists of opposed projecting arms 16a, 16b which have flattened areas 16c and 16d at their outboard ends. The end 16d also carries a tab 16:: which will preferably have its underside coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive for purposes which will be described in greater detail below.

In conjunction with the neck member 16, a valving arrangement, generally indicated by the numeral 40, is also disclosed. This includes a projecting tubular ty-pe body 41 which is integral with the projecting arm 16a. Also integral with the body 41 is a flexible arm 42a and a stop member 42 which has a plug 42b of suflicient size to close oil the opening in the body 41.

A sleeve 60 is inserted into the interior of the body 41 and may be secured in place either by applying adhesive to it or simply by virtue of the snug fit obtained. At one end of this sleeve is an opening 60a and a ball 50 is 1 3 received within the sleeve. When the device is inflated, the internal air pressure will be such that the ball will be urged to the right of FIG. 5 closing off the opening 60a and serving to assist the plug 42!] in keeping the device inflated.

Assuming that the cushion is in deflated condition, in order to inflate the same, the cap 42 and plug 42b need merely be removed from the opening and a source of air applied. This drives the ball 50* to the left of FIG. 5 until it contacts the raised rib 61. The ball, having a smaller diameter than the internal diameter of sleeve 60, will permit air to pass around its edges and through the openings 62, 62 in the base of the sleeve thereby permitting inflation.

In assembly or use of the cushion 10 in conjunction with the hanger 20, the same may be secured to the hanger in either inflated or uninflated condition and is secured thereto by a series of adhesive strips 30, 30 which again will be coated with some conventional pressure sensitive adhesive material. Essentially, assembly involves taping the hanger 20 to the cushion 10 by means of the tape strips 30, 30.

Assuming that the cushion 10 has now been inflated and mounted on hanger 20, the neck portion 16 is wrapped around the hook portion 24 of hanger 20, as clearly shown in FIG. 1 and the flattened portions 160 and 16d are overlapped. At this time, tab portion 16e is pressed against the surface of flattened portion 160 to hold the collar 16 in place, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

At this time, the garment can be hung on the combined structure and it is believed apparent that projections 14 and 15 will provide support for the shoulders of the garment while neck portion 16 will give a natural contour to the collar or neck area. If pants are to be hung on the device, it is believed also apparent that the base leg 13 will provide a rounded support thereby avoiding creasing as is commonly the problem with regard to wire hangers.

It should also be noted that the legs 11 and 12 of the cushion 10 include notched areas 17 and 18 and these areas have particular utility when a sleeveless garment is hung so that the straps of the garment would fit into the notches 17 and 18 thereby avoiding slippage.

It has been shown, therefore, how, by providing a uniquely contoured inflatable cushion which is readily attachable to any conventional hanger, that a new and improved supporting means for clothing has been dis covered.

It should be noted that with regard to the material of which the cushion 10 is constructed that any air-tight inflatable material such as rubber, for example, could be used. It should also be noted that it is possible to provide a roughened outer surface on the cushion 10 to avoid any problem of the garment slipping as would be the case with a smooth outer surface.

While a full and complete disclosure of the invention has been set forth in accordance with the patent statutes, it is to be understood that modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit hereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable cushion for use with a conventional triangular-shaped clothes hanger, comprising;

(A) an inflatable body portion having a generally triangular planar configuration with a convex superior portion adapted to correspond with the natural back and shoulder contour including opposed downwardly and outwardly extending legs, a base member connecting together the lower ends of said legs;

(B) shoulder and arm support means integral with and extending downwardly and outwardly from the lower ends of said legs of said body adjacent their point of juncture with the base member;

(C) means carried by said body for inflating the same;

and

(D) means for releasably securing said cushion to a hanger.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said body includes collar support means having two opposed free ends and means releasably securing the same together to form a support for a neck and collar of a garment when said body is inflated.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said legs of said body have notched areas disposed in the upper surfaces thereof.

8/1968 Sweden. 5/1953 Italy.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner 

